Sleeping bag with integrated inflatable pillow

ABSTRACT

A sleeping bag with an integrated inflatable pillow includes a sleeping bag wall extending longitudinally between opposed head and foot ends and having an outer shell and an interior lining. Retained adjacent the head end between the shell and the lining is a bladder including at least one gas tight bladder wall defining a fluid cavity for containing a predetermined volume of gas. A valve permits selective fluid communication between the fluid cavity and the atmosphere surrounding the bladder wall for the alternative inflation and deflation of the bladder.

PROVISIONAL PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] Priority based on Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/377,629, filed May 3, 2002, and entitled “SLEEPING BAG WITH INTEGRATED INFLATABLE PILLOW” is claimed.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Campers and serious hikers strive to minimize the amount of equipment they tote on their journeys in an effort to reduce the volume and weight of their gear. It will be appreciated that minimizing the amount of gear one totes reduces the effort required while on the move during waking hours. In addition to practical considerations, there also exist certain psychological and social considerations. For instance, in certain social circles, the overt toting of a pillow on a canoeing, hiking or camping adventure may invite ridicule from those more inclined to “rough it.”

[0003] Instead of actual pillows, campers sometimes resort to the creation of makeshift pillows from bunched or rolled articles of clothing. Few would deny, however, that propping one's head for sleep on an evenly cushioned surface is more comfortable than setting one's head down on a lumpy bunch or roll of clothing or than going without a headrest of any kind.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a cushion on which to rest one's head for sleep that does not add appreciable weight or volume to one's camping gear when not in use.

SUMMARY

[0005] A typical sleeping bag includes an outer shell joined to an inner lining. The lining and shell combine to form a sleeping bag wall. The sleeping bag wall extends longitudinally between opposed head and foot ends, defined by head and foot edges, and laterally between side edges. The wall is foldable over itself along a longitudinal, bisecting axis such that a contiguous fastener, such as a zipper, can selectively join the two side edges and two portions of the foot edge. The head edge, while folded over, typically remains open. When folded over, lower and upper panels characterize the sleeping bag wall; the lower panel corresponding to the portion of the bag wall upon which a sleeping person's body rests and the upper panel corresponding to the portion of the bag wall that traps heat over a sleeping person's body.

[0006] In a typical embodiment of the invention, an inflatable bladder is retained between the shell and the lining adjacent the head edge of that portion of the sleeping bag wall corresponding to the lower panel. The inflatable bladder comprises at least one flexible, gas tight bladder wall defining a fluid cavity for containing a predetermined volume of gas such as air, for instance. A valve depends from a bladder wall and facilitates the selective communication of fluid (e.g., air) between the cavity and the atmosphere external to the bladder.

[0007] In one version, the bladder is irremovable in the ordinary course of use, being, for instance, inaccessibly incorporated within the sleeping bag wall during manufacture. In another version, a portion of the sleeping bag wall adjacent the head end includes a bladder receptacle or pocket into which, and from which, a bladder can be alternatively inserted and removed. Once inserted, a bladder is removably retained within the bag wall by one or more selectively releasable fasteners which, in alternative illustrative embodiments, include hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®); one or more snaps or buttons and a zipper, for instance.

[0008] In various versions, the sleeping bag includes a bladder having a valve nozzle accessible through the sleeping bag wall. In such versions, the nozzle facilitates the convenient introduction of gas into the cavity.

[0009] In recognition of the fact that a particular person may prefer to maintain the releasably joined side edges of a sleeping bag to one particular side of his or her body, alternative versions incorporate a bladder, for example, on a particular side of the bisecting fold axis or, in the case of a “reversible” version, on either side of the bisecting fold axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows an open sleeping bag having a selectively inflatable bladder between the shell and lining of the sleeping bag wall; and

[0011]FIG. 2 shows an open sleeping bag including a bladder pocket for the selective retention of an inflatable bladder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a sleeping bag includes an outer shell 22 and inner lining 26 that combine to form a sleeping bag wall 30. The sleeping bag wall 30 extends longitudinally between a head end 32 and a foot end 34 opposite the head end 32. The head end 32 is defined by a head edge 36 and the foot end 34 is defined by a foot edge 38. The sleeping bag wall 30, furthermore, when opened, is laterally bounded by side edges 40. The bag wall 30 is foldable over itself along a longitudinal, bisecting axis A_(L) such that a contiguous fastener 44, such as a zipper 45, can selectively join the two side edges 40 and the two portions of the foot edge 38 divided by the longitudinal axis A_(L). Although the head edge 36 is foldable over the longitudinal axis A_(L), the head end 32 is typically not closeable. When folded over, the sleeping bag wall 30 is characterized by a lower panel 50 and an upper panel 52. The lower panel 50 corresponds to the portion of the bag wall 30 upon which a sleeping person's body rests and the upper panel 52 corresponds to the portion of the bag wall 30 that traps heat over a sleeping person's body.

[0013] In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, an inflatable bladder 70 is retained within the lower panel 50 between the shell 22 and the lining 26 adjacent the head edge 36 of the sleeping bag wall 30. The inflatable bladder 70 comprises at least one flexible bladder wall 72 defining a fluid cavity 76 for containing a predetermined volume of gas (e.g., air). A valve 80 depends from a bladder wall 72 and facilitates the selective communication of fluid (e.g., air) between the cavity 76 and the atmosphere external to the bladder 70.

[0014] Shown in FIG. 2 is an illustrative alternative embodiment of a sleeping bag 20 including a bladder receptacle 90. As indicated, an inflated bladder 70 can be inserted into the bladder receptacle 90. An inserted bladder 70 can be retained within the receptacle 90 by one or more selectively releasable fasteners 94. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 2, the inflatable bladder 70 is retained within the pocket 91 by closing the open end 92 of the pocket 91 with hook and loop fasteners 96.

[0015] The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired that the foregoing limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that appropriately fall within the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleeping bag with an integrated inflatable pillow, comprising: a sleeping bag wall including an outer shell and an interior lining, the sleeping bag wall extending longitudinally between opposed head and foot ends; and an inflatable bladder retained between the shell and the lining adjacent the head end, the bladder including at least one gas tight bladder wall defining a fluid cavity for containing a predetermined volume of gas.
 2. The sleeping bag of claim 1 further comprising a valve depending from the bladder wall and facilitating the selective communication of fluid between the cavity and the atmosphere external to the bladder.
 3. The sleeping bag of claim 1 wherein the bladder is irremovably incorporated within the sleeping bag wall.
 4. The sleeping bag of claim 2 wherein the bladder is irremovably incorporated within the sleeping bag wall.
 5. The sleeping bag of claim 1 wherein the a portion of the sleeping bag wall further comprises a bladder pocket into which, and from which, the bladder can be alternatively inserted and removed.
 6. The sleeping bag of claim 5 further comprising at least one selectively releasable fastener for removably retaining the bladder in the bladder pocket.
 7. The sleeping bag of claim 6 wherein the at one selectively releasable fastener includes at least one of (i) a set cooperating hook and loop fasteners; (ii) a snap; (iii) a button; and (iv) a zipper.
 8. The sleeping bag of claim 5 further comprising a valve depending from the bladder wall and facilitating the selective communication of fluid between the cavity and the atmosphere external to the bladder.
 9. The sleeping bag of claim 6 further comprising a valve depending from the bladder wall and facilitating the selective communication of fluid between the cavity and the atmosphere external to the bladder.
 10. The sleeping bag of claim 7 further comprising a valve depending from the bladder wall and facilitating the selective communication of fluid between the cavity and the atmosphere external to the bladder.
 11. The sleeping bag of claim 2 wherein the valve further includes nozzle accessible through the sleeping bag wall. 